10 Jun
2016
10 Jun
'16
1:19 a.m.
What would you
expect. Properly maintained, managed enterprise and
locked down Windows/7 is solid and reliable.
In the UK it is hard to use Linux in the "Public Sector" and in the UK
most Hospitals are Public Sector.
You can use Linux BUT you must have a support contract in place and
run a supported distro.
Having costed this it brings the price up way beyond that of a Windows
desktop.
You can surely get a proper Linux support contract -- proper as in: if trigger a bug (which may be anything from a protocol
violation, through a
security hole, to a crash) in the kernel or other core component, then you
can
log it with your support provider's bug tracking
system and get it fixed
with an
update release of the offending component provided
within an agreed
reasonable time frame, having live access to the bug status throughout the
cycle.
You can but you will have to pay a subscription, and that will be expensive.
You will also have to stick to a supported release such as Red Enterprise
Hat.
Now can you get it with Windows? This is a serious question -- I've been
asking
various IT people about it many times over the years,
and only got evasive
answers (if any), but perhaps I asked the wrong people.
There are several options. Basic support is provided in the base licence,
i.e. you get the fixes. Some of the licencing options include additional
support calls. If you are big enough you will have a Technical Account
Manager (TAM) who will assist in managing these calls. However, the bottom
line is you can always raise a per-incident support call on supported
software by ringing the support number and giving them a credit card. It
used to be ?200. I have done this thee times I the last 20 years. Twice its
been a known problem and received a refund.
Maciej
Dave
G4UGM